Train-locating and time-recording apparatus.



B. F. OSBORN & E. F. ZIRBEL.

TRAIN IJOGATING AND TIME RECORDING APPARATUS. AYPLIOATIOH FILED FEB. a,1911.

1,09 1,756.- Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

Hams-$113211.

jmmlmll w A Ivan 4 BFWw/Mfjhfel BfF. OSBORN & E. F. ZIRBEL. I TRAINLOGATING AND TIME RECORDING APPARATUS. APPLIOATIOK FILED FEB. a, 1911.

1,091,756. Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- W1 if X U \mum mm I. I V I I f0 f8: dvfs 2; "Bio. 6 1; I

B. F. OSBORN & E. F. ZIRBEL. TRAIN LOCATING AND TIME RECORDINGAPPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED r1113. 8, 191

' Patented Mar. 31, 1914. 1,091,756. a SHEETS-SHEET s.

2:122: E:\=52:255555 ESQ 4 m\ Ivmerrfars." M 7M \w an J may 9 UNITEDSTATES PATENT oFFIoE.

BENJAMIN I. OSBORN AND EHIL I. ZIRBEL, E BI IfPEY, IOWA.

TRAIN-LOCATING AND TIME- RECORDING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented ltIar. 31, 1914. A

Application filed Februaryfi, 1911. Serial No. 607,806.

To all whom it may concern..-

' Be it known that we, BENJAMIN F. Os-

BORN and EM'I F. Znumn, citizens of the United States of America, andresidents of Rippey, Greene count Iowa, have invented a new and usefulTrain-Locating and Time- Recording Apparatus, of which the followin is aspeclfication.

%he object of this invention is to provide an improvement in the art ofrecording and annunciating the location of railway trains throughout adivision or system of a rail- A further object of this invention is toprovide an improvement in the art of recording and annunciating the timeat which various railway trains are in various stations throughout adivision or system of a railway.

A further object of this invention is to provide animprovement in theart of re cordin and annunciating the location and time o a series ofrailway trains at or in aseries of stations throughout a division orsystem of a railway, the time and location being recorded andannunciated simultaneously with each other and practicallysimultaneously throughout the series of stations.

A further object of this invention is to provide means adapted foroperation by a trainman at successive stations whereby the location ofhis train and the time of its arrival to such stations may be recordedand annunciated at the several stations touched by the train.

A further object of this invention is to provide means adapted foroperation by a trainman at successive stations whereby the location ofhis train and the time of its arrival to such stations may besimultaneously recorded and annunciated at the several stations touchedby the train.

A further object of this invention is to provide means adapted foroperation by trainmcn at successive stations whereby the locations oftheir trains and the time of their arrival to such stations may berecorded and annunciated at the several stations touched by the trains.

A further object of this invention is to provide means adapted foroperation by trainman at successive stations whereby the locations oftheir trains and the time of their arrival to such stations may besimultaneously recorded and annunciated at the several stations touchedby the trains.

Our invention consists in the constructlon, arrangement and combinationof elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in our claims andillustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which-'- Figure l is adiagram illustrating a series of electrically connected groups ofannunciators, which annunciators each contain key-operated switch and aclock-controlled dating mechanism. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly indiagram, of asingle group of annunciators associated with asingle'clock,each annunciator having a clock-controlled dating mechanism and akey-operated:-

switch. Fig, 3 is an elevation ofpart of the d6V1CeS'ShOWI1 in Fig. 2 atright "angles to such showing. "Fig.4 is a plan of the devices shown inFigs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view of one of the"annunciators. Fig. 6 is a front view, partly in section, of part of thedevices shown 1n" Fig. 5, the front closing means beingremoved. Fig. 7is a vertical section of the remaining. parts-of the annunciator shownin Fig. 5'. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectio'nillus mechanism in drivingrelations with dating mechanism. a

In the apparatus or system as illustrated, stations A, B, C, D,E,-corresponding in number with the railway stations of adivision oroperating section of a railway, are each provided with a group ofannunciators, each group corresponding in number with the trainsoperating in each division or section; and each station or group ofannunciators also includes a timing mechanism. The annunciators areelectrically connected in series, each series including one annunciatorof each group, throughout the length trating a means employed to connectclock of the division or section, and eachseries of annunciators isindependent of each other series and each timing mechanism is normallyindependent of the annunciatorcir- -i cuits and of each other andeachannuneia,

tor circuit normally is closed. -Each 311%};

nunciator is provided with a time -mechanism-controlled recordingmechanism and a key-operated switch. v x

r Ihe key-operated switches of a series ot annunciators are allsusceptlble of operation by a key of one form, which key diftors in formfrom those employed to operloo.

ate the switch of the other series, and said key is carried by atrainman, preferably the conductor in charge. When a train is about toleave the terminal station of a division the trainman uses his key tooperate a switch. of the annunciator at that station applicable to histrain, and-in so doing breaks the circuit of the series of annunciatorsapplicable to his train throughout the entire division or section; suchbreaking of the circuit setting up in each annunciator of the series anoperation of the recording mechanism which will record a visiblememorandum of the time at which such operation by the trainman iseffected, in each annunciator of the series, thus electrically andautomatically announcing in a visible printed record the time ofdeparture, of the train on a trip through its division or section. Thisoperation is repeated by the trainman at successive stations throughoutthe trip and at each operation the time of such operation isautomatically and electrically recorded andexhibited at all of thestations covered by such trip. The indicated trainman of the nextsucceeding train leaving the terminal performs the same operation inrespect of another series of annunciators and so on through the seriesof trains and independent series of annunciators applicable thereto tothe full number of trains traversing such division or section. It is tobe understood that the timing mechanism at a given station is co1nmon toall of the annunciators and recording mechanisms therein located at suchstation and that such timing mechanism is operated independently of theannunciator circuits. In the drawings (Figs. 1 and 2) the annunciatorsof the various series are designated by letters a, b, 0, d and e and thevarious timing mechanisms generally by the indices A, B, C, D, E, thecircuits connecting the annunciators in series being designated by theindices (1, b, 0, cl, e.

Each annunciator a, b, 0, d, e is constructed with a housing 10 having aglazed door 11 forming a closure for its front, said door being securedin a closed position by a key-operated lock 12; a switch box 13depending from or located immediately be neath the housing 10; and aclock box 14 surmounting the housing 10 or located immediately above itand carrying a glazed dial 15. The switch box 13 contains a fixedcontact member 16 and a movable contact member 17 adapted to contactnormally with the first member, said members beingin-the electriccircuit a, b, c, d or e as :the case may be. The movable con-' tactmember 17 is fixed to and adapted to be moved by a tumbler 18 to breakthe circuitby breaking the contact between the members, and said tumblerextends through the front Wall of the switch box 13 and is 2 adapted toreceive the train'm'ans key (not shown). It is to be understood that thetumbler 18 is shown conventionally and may vary in form as desired, thetumblers of the series a, b, 0, d, e differing from each other in theshape of key required. to operate them. A shaft 19 is mounted throughall of the housings 10 of a group at a station such as A, B, C, D or Eand is adapted to be rotated continuously or intermittently as to minuteintervals of time by gearing to a rod 20 extending into the clock box 14and connected to the clock mechanism, the gearing between said shaft androd being shown conventionally and designated by the numeral 21 in Fig.8. A. shaft 22 extendthrough all of the housings 10 of a given group ofannunciators, preferably parallel with and above the shaft 19, and aseries of printing wheels 23 are mounted on said shaft 22 within each ofthe housings and carry type for printing names of stations and times ofday respectively. The shaft 22 or the printing wheels 23 thereon areindependently rotated intermittently by gear connections with the shaft19, said gear connections being shown col'iventionally in Fig. 7 anddesignated by the numeral 24.

We have not shown nor described the details of construction of theprinting wheels 23 or gear connections 24 as they form no part of ourpresent invention and various recording devices, registerin." devicesand the like now on the market and well known may be adapted to thispurpose and be mounted in the housings 10. A spool 25 is mounted in thelower portion of each housing 10 and a ribbon or tape 26, preferably ofpaper, is wound on saidspool. The bight of the ribbon or tape 26 iscarried over a direction roller 27 in the upper portion of the housing10 and an end portion of said tape is ca-rried and fixed and adapted tobe wound on a spool 28 also located in the upper portion of the housingand at the rear of the direction roller. The spool 28 preferably isfixed to and carried by a spring drum 2%) of conventional form, adaptedto be operated in one direction by a spring contained in said drum forthe purpose of winding the ribbon or tape 26 on said spool and unwindingthe same from the spool A ratchet 30 is formed on the spring drum 29 anda detent 31 mounted within the housing nor mally engages said ratchetand prevents rotation of the ratchet, drum and spool under impulse ofthe spring in the (lIl-Elll. A bight portion of the ribbon or tape 20between the spool 26 and roller 27 extends vertically in proximity tobut out of contact with the printing wheels 23 and the face of saidribbon or tape opposed to the printing wheels and also opposed to andvisible through the glazed portion of the door 11, preferably is printedwith columnar spaces respectively adapted to receive from the printingwheels imprints of station names and time records.

Correspondingr indications, such as Stations and glazed portion of thedoor 11 in front of the columnar spaces indicated on the ribbon or ta26. In this connection attention is calle to a legend, such as Train No.1 which may be placed on the upper portion of the door 11 of anannunciator to guide an inquirer. An armature 32 is mounted forrectilinear reciprocation at right angles to and at the rear of theshafts 22, 24 and said armature carries a platen 33 on one end. Theplaten 33 is formed with guides through which the ribbon or tape 26passes vertically and said platen is on the opposite side of said ribbonor tape from the printing wheels 23. A coil magnet 34 is mountedlooselyv around the armature 32 and is in circuit with the electriccircuit a, b, c, d or e as the case may be. The armature 32 is formedwith a longitudinal slot 35 and a pin 36 extends through said slot andthrough a bearing within which the armature reciprocates. A spring 37 isinterposed between the pin 36 and armature 32 and normally acts to movethe armature in such direction as to withdraw the platen 33 from theprinting wheels 23. A spring 38 is mounted in another bearing of thearmature and presses against the rear end of said armature. The detent31 is formed with a fork embracing the rear end portion of the armature32 and engaging a pin 39 extending through said armature. The spring 39also engages the adjacent bearing and determines the degree ofcompression of the spring 38 by limiting movement of the armature in onedirection; While the electric circuit is closed and the coil magnet 34is energized there is a tendency of the armature 32 to center in saidcoil magnet and compress the spring 38, thus permitting the detent 31(under pressure of a springAO on its pivot) to engage the ratchet 30.hen the circuit is broken, however, by key operation of the tumbler 18and switch member 17, the coil magnet 34 is decnergized and the spring38 expands 0 suddenly and forcibly. thus moving the armature 32 andplaten 33 forwardly and impactina the tape or ribbon 26 with theprinting wheels 23. Immediately upon this operation-the spring 37 (whichis compressed'by expansion of the spring 38) reacts or rebounds on thearmature 32 and moves it rearwardly sufliciently to separate the ribbonor tape 26 from the printing wheels,

thus imprinting said tape with a station 50 name and time by saidwheels. Immediately upon release of the tumbler 18 by cessation of themanual movement thereof through the key, the contact member 17 falls bygravity into contact with the member 16, closes V as the circuit, andthe coil magnet 34 is again ime may be placed on the energized and movesthe armature 32 to initial position and compresses the spring 38.

Momentarily at a point in the operation of the printing devices thedetent 31 is withdrawn from the ratchet 30 by the pin 39 and the ribbonor tape moves a distance sufiicient to bring the printed record intoview behind the glazed portion of the door 11.

Any desired devices and mechanisms may be employed for setting theprinting wheels forwardly in unison with the travel of the hands of theclock; any desired mechanisms or devices may be employed for causing theprinting wheels to imprint the stations and time on the ribbon or tape;any desired devices may be employed for advancing the ribbon or tapefrom spooltospool; and any desired devices may be employed for breakingthe circuit. Therefore, we do not desire to be understood as limitingourselves to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shownsince the several devices may be modified at will without departing fromthe spirit of our invention.

If desired the station names may be printed, in the' proper order, onthe ribbon or tape, in such position as to come within the I column forStations; and the ribbon or tape may be' extended to such length as toaccommodate a number of complete lists of such names of stations, forinstance suflicient to last for a months business. In the event thisplan is used, the printing'wheels. 23

devices associated with each of said annunciators.

2. An improvement in the art of recording and annunciating the locationof railway trains, which consists of a series of electrically operatedannunciators in closed circuit, key-operated means associated with eachannunciator for breaking said circuit, and dormant recording devicesassociated with each annunciator and operated only during the time thecircuit is broken. I

3. Anjimprovement in the art of recording and annunciating the locationof railway trains, which consists of a series of electrically operatedannunciators in "closed circuit, means associated with each annunciatorfor breaking said circuit, and recording devices associated with eachannunciator and operated during the time the circuit is broken.

4. An improvement in the art of recording and annunciating the locationof railway trains, consisting of a series of stations, each stationhaving a number of annunciators corresponding with the number of trainsoperated to or through said station, said annunciators arranged inindependent series in closed circuits throughout the several stations,one annunciator of each series being located at each station,key-operated means associated with each annunciator for breaking thecircuit thereof, recording means in each annunciator, and means foroperating the recording means during the time the circuit is broken.

5. An improvement in the art of recording and annunciating the locationof railway trains, which improvement consists of a series ofelectrically connected annunciators, means for operating the series ofannunciators simultaneously, and separate recording and exhibitingdevices associated with each of said annunciators, and all adapted to beoperated by operation of one set thereof.

6. An improvement in the art of recording and annunciating the locationof railway trains, which consist of a series of electrically operatedannunciators in closed circuit, means for breaking said circuit, andseparate recording and exhibiting devices associated with eachannunciator and simultaneously operated only during the time the circuitis broken.

7. An improvement in the art of recording and annunciating the locationof railway trains, which consists of annunciators in series atsuccessive stations, recording means associated with said annunciators,and means at each station adapted for operation by a trainman wherebythe location of his train and the time of its arrival may be re cordedand annunciated at the several stations in such series.

8. An improvement in the art of recording and annunciating the locationof railway trains, which consist-s of annunciators in series atsuccessive stations, recording means associated with said annunciators,and means at each station adapted for operation by a trainman wherebythe location of his train and the time of its arrival may besimultaneously recorded and annunciated at the several "stations in suchseries.

9. An improvement in the art of recording and annunciating the locationof railway trains, which consists of annunciators in series atsuccessive stations, recording means associated with said annunciators,and means at each station adapted for operation by trainmen whereby thelocations of their trains and the time of their arrival may besimultaneously recorded and annunciated at the several stations in suchseries.

10. An improvement in the art of recording and annunciating the locationof railway trains, which consists of annunciators in series atsuccessive stations, recording means associated with said annunciators,and means at each station adapted for operation by trainmen whereby thelocations of their trains and the times of their arrival may be recordedand annunciated at the several stations in such series.

11. An improvement in the art of recording and annunciating the locationof railway trains, which consists of a series of annunciators atseparated stations in a. closed electric circuit, recording devices ineach annunciator, exhibiting devices in each annunciator, means foradvancing the exhibitng dev ces, means for operating the recordng devces, and key-operated circuit-breakmg devices in each annunciatoradapted to act on the circuitof the entire series of annunciators. Y

12. An improvement in the art of recording and annunciating the locationof railway trains, which consists of a series of annunciatorszit-separated stations in a closed electric circuit, recording devicesin each annunciator, exhibiting devices in each annunciator, means foradvancing the exhibiting dev ces, means for operating the recordingdevices and key-operated circuit-breaking devices in each annunciatoradapted to act on the circuit of the entire series of annunciators, thecircuit-breaking devices being automatically operated to make thecircuit.

13. An improvement in the art of recording and annunciating the locationof railway trains, which consists of a series of electrically connectedannunciators, means for operating the series of annunciatorssimultaneously, separate recording devices associated With each of saidannunciators, the recording devices of all the annunciators adapted tobe operated by actuation of any selected one, and a separate timingmechanism ior each annunciator and acting on the recording devices.

14. An improvement in the art of recording and annunciating the locationof rail way trains, which consists of a series of electrically operatedannunciators in closed circuit, means for breaking said circuit,recording devices associated with each annunciator and conjunctivelyoperated during the time the circuit is broken, and timing mechanismacting on the recording devices.

15. An" improvement in the art of recording and annunciating thelocation of railway trains, which consists of annunciators in series atsuccessive station's, recording means associated with said annunciators,timing mechanism acting on the recording devices, and means at eachstation adapted for operation by a trainman whereby the location of histrain and the time'of its arrival may be recorded and annunciated at theseveral stations in such series.

16. An improvement in the art of recording and annunciating the locationof rail way trains, which consists of groups of annunciating stations,closed electric circuits each of which connects a unit of each group,recording devices common to each group, timing mechanisms common to eachgroup and acting on said recording devices, and means for selectivelybreaking the circuit of either series of units.-

17. An improvement in the art of recording and annunciating the locationof railway trains, which consists of a series of annunciators in aclosed circuit, a printing device-in each annunciator, a ribbon andfeeding devices therefor in each annunciator, means for contacting theribbon and printing devices in each annunciator, a timing device actingon the printing device, and a key operated switch in each annunciator.

18. An annunciator comprising a housing,

recording .and exhibiting devices in said housing, timing mechanismacting on the recording devices, electrical controlling devices for saidrecording and exhibiting devices, and a key-operated switch acting onsaid electrical controlling devices.

19. A series of annunciators in a closed electric circuit, eachannunciator having recording and exhibiting devices, a timing deviceacting on the recording devices, and a key-operated switch acting tobreak said circuit.

Signed by us at Rippey, Iowa, this 23rd day of December, 1910.

- BENJAMIN F. OSBORN.

EMIL F. ZIRBEL.

\Vitnesses:

W. M. OSBORN,

BERTIE STOUFER.

